Castro District News

Do you and your partner consider yourself wineos? Take yourself on a little
tour of all the great wine bars in the Castro! Start at Canela (2272 Market
Street) where you can get a great Spanish-style meal paired with one of their
spectacular wines that they’ve hand-selected from different parts of the
world. Then head to Swirl on Castro (572 Castro Street) and try any three of
their 20 rotating offerings. After that, finish off your evening at Blush! (476
Castro Street) to experience a cool relaxing vibe, a wide variety of European
wines and live music!

Need a break from your adult responsibilities? Maybe it’s time to escape
them and unleash your inner child with your partner. While the day is fresh and
warm, head over to the Seward Street Slides (Seward & Douglass Streets)!
Bring a piece of cardboard, wear sturdy pants, and prepare for a joyous ride.
After all that fun in the sun, head over to Hot Cookie (407 Castro Street) and
treat yourself to something sweet. With a cookie in hand, then head over to
Whatever... (548 Castro Street) for a huge selection of comic books and fun
toys.

3. Get a Couples Massage

There’s nothing like releasing the stresses of the week with a relaxing
massage — especially with your partner! Check out Groupon for some local deals
or hit up one of the Castro’s many spas (like M Spa or The Lotus Touch) to get
your hour (or two or three!) of serenity.

4. Make Dinner with Local Ingredients

Head to your local Castro Farmers’ Market or grocery store and pick out
some fresh ingredients (and a bottle of wine) to make a delicious dinner for you
and your sweetie. Some great local stores include: Mollie Stone’s (4201 18th
Street), Fenway Market (4686 18th Street), Bi-Rite Market (3639 18th Street),
Buffalo Whole Food and Grain Co. (598 Castro Street), and the Castro Farmer’s
Market (through March-December: http://goo.gl/9W3qPP).

5. Picnic at Dolores Park

If you’d rather soak up some sun on your date, you can pick up some
ready-to-eat goodies at the local markets and have a picnic in the park instead.
Dolores Park is the Castro's favorite place to celebrate, relax, picnic and
enjoy great views. With plenty of food close by and lots of people-watching
opportunities, you could stay here all day! Read more about Dolores Park: http://goo.gl/0KnFIC

6. Take a Historical Castro Walking Tour

Lace up those sneaks, grab your lover and take a lovely walking tour through
the heart of San Francisco’s LGBTQ community. With this step-by-step guide,
you can learn about the history of Castro, San Francisco while getting an
afternoon of leisurely exploration. (Plus, you’ll burn a bunch of calories so
you can feast at all the famous Castro District restaurants afterwards!) Take
the tour: http://goo.gl/NoYC6D

If you feel like walking a little more, take a hike at one of these beautiful
Castro hiking spots: http://goo.gl/wiMkSD

7. Picnic at Dusk and a Free Outdoor Movie

Starting in June until September, Film Night In The Park holds an annual
summer film festival at Dolores Park showing favorite flicks new and old.
Admission is free but they do encourage donations. Goodies like drinks, candy
and popcorn are available at all screenings, but it’s fun to bring your own,
too! Arrive by 8pm and be sure to bring blankets and pillows so you can cuddle
up with your S.O. More information: http://www.filmnight.org

8. Grab Dinner and Watch a Classic Flick at Castro Theatre

Grab some dinner at one of the Castro’s hottest restaurants [http://goo.gl/4WmA09]
and then catch a movie at Castro Theatre. The gorgeous Castro Theatre was built
in 1922 and is the Castro hotspot for classic movies and Disney sing-alongs!
Learn more: http://goo.gl/Y2Y0Si